On the frontline: the state of the world's water 2020

Maimouna Dembele, 70, president of the Benkadi women's group, standing next to shrubs in the bush in the village of Kakounouso, Samabogo, Circle of Bla, Segou Region, Mali, February 2019.
Image: WaterAid/ Basile Ouedraogo

Climate change is happening now. Never before have we witnessed so many extreme weather events this frequently – severe droughts, powerful storms, devastating floods and cyclones. All that disrupts and destroys lives, whilst reshaping our environment and our futures.

1 in 10 people globally do not even have a basic water pump or covered well close to home, which is making it much harder to cope with the growing impacts of climate change.

Our analysis of global water access examines how climate change is making it harder for people in the world’s poorest countries to rely on being able to drink clean water every day. The report also highlights the inadequate amounts of climate finance currently spent in these countries to help them cope with the impacts of climate change. 

We are calling for urgent action from governments around the world and the international community to include safe water and sanitation in their plans for dealing with the impacts of climate change.

Watch our short film showing the crucial role of clean water as a first line of defence against climate change: